W.D. Bickham, Dayton Daily Journal, from the American Editors series (N35) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

Allen & Ginter's "W.D. Bickham, Dayton Daily Journal," was one of a series of chromolithograph cards inserted into cigarette packs. These cards reflect the rise of consumer culture in the late 19th century, but they also offer insight into the prevailing attitudes toward labor, industry, and identity. The image on the left depicts the Miami Canal in Dayton, Ohio, a bustling industrial scene marked by smoking factories. This backdrop frames a portrait of W.D. Bickham, the editor of the "Dayton Daily Journal". These cigarette cards were aimed at a predominantly white, male audience, who were the consumers of tobacco products. In this context, Bickham's inclusion in the "American Editors" series underscores the role of media in shaping public opinion and reinforcing social hierarchies. The romanticized depiction of industrial progress, juxtaposed with the image of a prominent editor, speaks to the intertwined relationship between economic expansion, journalistic authority, and masculine identity in post-Civil War America. The card invites us to reflect on how these images not only mirrored but also actively constructed the values and aspirations of their time.